This looks interesting.
Exhibition starts today
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Category Archives: Things to see and do
Presepe in Pieve di Monti di Villa
The living nativity in Pieve di Monti di Villa was a great success. Lots of people attended and got into the spirit of things. I was unable to attend as I am currently in Australia, but luckily my friends Teri and Charlotte were there and took some photos.
Valerio Ceccarelli also captured the event.
It is wonderful to see so many people take part and to see a crowd of people enjoying the event. These local festivals are a delightful part of life in the villages of Bagni di Lucca…long may they continue.
Living nativity
One of the most delightful events to happen in Bagni di Lucca is coming up. The Presepe Vivente will be held on 4th December. This year it will be in Pieve di Monti di Villa. The residents have been busy preparing the village. Paul Davies dropped in to take some photos.
This is an event not to be missed.
Making figurines
Bagni di Lucca has long been known for making figurines. As a cheaper alternative to carved marble or stone, religious statues were made with Plaster of Paris, or gesso. Presepi, or nativity scenes, were particularly popular and salesmen from Bagni di Lucca took them to the world.
The industry still exists in Bagni di Lucca and there is now a plan to introduce a course in the making of figurines. A contribution from Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Lucca has enabled a small group of people including the mayor, Massimo Betti, Alessandro Gabrielli, Sonia Lena and Mariano Mariani to initiate a course of lessons in this traditional art.
The lessons will be open to anyone over 16 and will be managed by Simone Fiori from Arte Basanti, a firm that still makes figurines by hand in the old tradition. (Click here to see the post about it) He will be helped by Mariano Mariano, Luca Marchi and Marco Fontanini from other local businesses.
Applications for the course can be made until 23rd December at the education office in the Comune in La Villa or through the website http://www.comunebagnidilucca.it.
The course, or courses, if there is enough interest, will begin in the new year and will consist of lessons over 5 mornings and 2 afternoons. The cost will be €50 for residents and €80 for non residents. Each course will be limited to 10 people.
For information call (39) 0583 809940.
I think this is an excellent initiative and I hope it is successful. It would be great if it becomes popular and attracts people from outside the area as well as locals.
Residents of Bagni di Lucca took their plaster skills all over the world when they migrated to other countries. It would be wonderful to revive the skill and provide a fun thing for visitors to do.
Please share this post and spread the word.
This weekend in Fornoli
This weekend is the time to be in Fornoli.
Let’s hope the weather is fine.
Bernabo Spa
The beautiful Bernabo Spa has opened for business. A cosmetic company from Milan visited and fell in love with the elegant old building. Their main interest was the therapeutic water, but when they saw the wonderful marble baths they realised that it would be a great place for them to operate a small spa.
The treatment rooms.
The baths…individual marble baths.
…and the deep, walk in bath.
The source of the thermal water.
As well as the thermal baths they offer massage, manicures, pedicure, facials and much more. Drop in and take a look and make an appointment for a special treatment.
It’s great that the spa has opened. Bagni di Lucca once had 12 operating spas. This one was a favourite of Elisa Bacciocchi, Napoleon’s sister and Princess of Lucca in the early 1800s. Tell all your friends, share this on Facebook, have a treatment, let’s support this new venture.
Hours…Tuesday -Saturday 9.30am – 7.30pm
Bernabo Spa…Via Bagni Caldi 36. Ponte a Serraglio.
Tel. 0583 1808020
centrobernabo@exelor.it
Facebook…https:/www.facebook.com/centrobernabo/
Update…The Bernabo Spa is now closed.
Raft race
On Sunday the local raft groups raced each other from Chifenti, where the Lima River meets the Serchio River, to the gorgeous Ponte della Maddelena.
I missed the race, but Montefegatesi photographer David Bonaventura was on hand to get get some great photos.
It looked like a fun day despite the less than perfect weather. I think the boys in the white raft won.
Dead man lying down
Il uomo morto, the dead man, is a cluster of mountains that, when viewed from a certain angle, looks like a man lying down.
The day I took the photo was a bit hazy, but you can see why the mountains got their name. I was in Pieve Fosciana in Garfagnana when I took the photo.
A weekend of fun
The festival Paese de Balocchi (I call it the Pinocchio festival) was a great success. The weather was perfect and people came out in droves to enjoy the entertainment on offer.
The umbrella installation in Via Umberto provided an extra level of colour.
The many stalls offered lots of things to buy.
The old fashioned games kept the children, and parents, busy.
There was a wonderful girl band making their way up and down the street, led by the marvellous Roberto Lucchesi.
A dinosaur, with rider, was a big hit.
Face painting is always popular.
There was a jumping castle, people in costume, balloons and more.
Well done to the organisers. The festival gets better each year.
Pinocchio returns
This weekend is the time for the annual Pinocchio festival in La Villa.
It promises to be a lot of fun…don’t miss it.
Bella Bagni di Lucca 